City Comparison
Leawood vs Olathe
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Olathe scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Leawood
Olathe
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Olathe is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
14% lower than in Leawood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Leawood's average rent is
21% higher than Olathe's.
| Metric | Leawood | Olathe | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,450 | +21% |
| Groceries | $480 | $420 | +14% |
| Utilities | $190 | $175 | +9% |
| Transport | $140 | $115 | +22% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $240 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,790 | $2,400 | +16% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 98 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Leawood offers 28% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Leawood delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Leawood is estimated at
$75,000 vs $58,000 in Olathe.
| Metric | Leawood | Olathe |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $95,000 | $74,000 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 76,000 idx | 75,510 idx |
| Household Income | $165,000 | $95,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.3°F of each other.
For sunshine, Leawood comes out ahead with 15 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Leawood sees 0.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Leawood | Olathe |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.90°F | 56.60°F |
| Summer High | 86.10°F | 85.50°F |
| Winter Low | 22.20°F | 21.90°F |
| Rainfall | 39.80 in | 42.30 in |
| Snowfall | 17.90 in | 17.70 in |
| Sunny Days | 270 | 255 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Olathe scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Leawood leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Leawood | Olathe |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 32.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Olathe is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Leawood.
From a growth perspective, Olathe is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Leawood has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Leawood | Olathe |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,650 | 142,385 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 1.10% |
| Median Age | 45.0 | 36.5 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 3.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Leawood
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest cities in Kansas with violent crime rates well below the national average.
Home to top-performing public schools within the Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission school districts.
Exceptional median household income exceeding $160,000 per year per U.S. Census Bureau data.
Abundant green spaces, including over a dozen public parks and extensive hike-and-bike trail networks.
Premier shopping and dining destinations like Town Center Plaza and Park Place.
Drawbacks
Significantly higher cost of living and housing prices compared to the national average and Kansas state norms.
High level of car dependency with limited public transportation infrastructure within residential zones.
High property tax burdens associated with high municipal real estate valuations.
Limited inventory of affordable starter homes for first-time buyers within city limits.
Competitive real estate market driven by high demand for top school districts.
Olathe
Advantages
Olathe consistently ranks among the safest cities in Kansas with violent and property crime rates well below the national average per FBI crime data.
The Olathe Public Schools (USD 233) district is highly rated statewide, offering exceptional educational outcomes and modern facilities.
The city features over 30 public parks, extensive trail systems, and community lakes providing abundant outdoor recreation opportunities.
Strategic location along Interstate 35 provides seamless commuting and logistics access across the entire Kansas City metropolitan area.
A thriving local economy with strong job growth in technology, logistics, and healthcare sectors.
Drawbacks
High reliance on automobiles makes public transit options limited for those who prefer not to drive.
Property taxes in Kansas can be relatively high compared to some competing states, impacting overall homeownership costs.
Housing inventory for first-time buyers can experience tight competition due to high regional demand.
Warm and humid summer conditions can occasionally limit comfortable outdoor daytime activities during peak heat waves.
Suburban sprawl in newer western developments can result in longer local errand commutes.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Leawood
#171Kansas, USA
64.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$95,000
Cost Index
125
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
32.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
270/yr
Avg Temp
56.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
92
Business
78
Olathe
#40Kansas, USA
71.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$74,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
38.0/100
Sunny Days
255/yr
Avg Temp
56.60°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
3.10%
Livability
83
Business
76
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